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Trite Endings and Romance
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From: Monica R. Edinger <edinger>
Date: Tue, 08 May 2001 12:49:52 +0100
clare.ferguson at sympatico.ca writes:
While I found the abrupt romantic development problematic, it did not cause me to feel as Clare did about the ending. I could see absolutely how close Lyra and Will had become and found their final separation tragic
(and similar to the separation at the end Price's The Sterkarm Handshake).
However, I did feel the lack of build up in the romance between Lyra and Will. In fact, we discussed this on child_lit last fall (along with whether or not they DID it). Here is one of my posts on this topic in response to something Nina Linsday wrote:
I agree with you. It is wonderful. But it wasn't romantic _for me_. I'm NOT saying it had to be. Far from it! I'm just trying to work out why the scene with Lrya, Will and the fruit did not move me the way so much else did. I can only figure that it was the lack of romantic build-up. I didn't have that cathartic feeling that I have when other couples after endless tension and/or build up finally recognize and articulate their love for each other.
Here's a silly story. One of my favorite romantic books in 5th grade was L'Engle's And Both Were Young. I loved it for the romance. So much (I've written about this before) I tried to copy the book in total. I kept taking it out of the library and it never occurred to me that I could buy it. (I don't recollect any bookstores in East Lansing, Michigan, circa 1962.) Anyway, that book had the sort of slow growing relationship that finally culminated in a kiss or something of that sort. (I haven't looked at the book in years, almost embarrassed to read it, so obsessed was I at the time!) I just don't feel that sort of thing developed between Lyra and Will. Does this better explain what I feel I missed? Why the scene with the fruit left me cold. As opposed to the end when I cried. (And many other parts of the books where I was incredibly emotionally moved.) I guess the one emotion I didn't have was whatever that one was of romance that I had with L'Engle's book. Does that make any sense whatsoever?
Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at yahoo.com
Received on Tue 08 May 2001 06:49:52 AM CDT
Date: Tue, 08 May 2001 12:49:52 +0100
clare.ferguson at sympatico.ca writes:
While I found the abrupt romantic development problematic, it did not cause me to feel as Clare did about the ending. I could see absolutely how close Lyra and Will had become and found their final separation tragic
(and similar to the separation at the end Price's The Sterkarm Handshake).
However, I did feel the lack of build up in the romance between Lyra and Will. In fact, we discussed this on child_lit last fall (along with whether or not they DID it). Here is one of my posts on this topic in response to something Nina Linsday wrote:
I agree with you. It is wonderful. But it wasn't romantic _for me_. I'm NOT saying it had to be. Far from it! I'm just trying to work out why the scene with Lrya, Will and the fruit did not move me the way so much else did. I can only figure that it was the lack of romantic build-up. I didn't have that cathartic feeling that I have when other couples after endless tension and/or build up finally recognize and articulate their love for each other.
Here's a silly story. One of my favorite romantic books in 5th grade was L'Engle's And Both Were Young. I loved it for the romance. So much (I've written about this before) I tried to copy the book in total. I kept taking it out of the library and it never occurred to me that I could buy it. (I don't recollect any bookstores in East Lansing, Michigan, circa 1962.) Anyway, that book had the sort of slow growing relationship that finally culminated in a kiss or something of that sort. (I haven't looked at the book in years, almost embarrassed to read it, so obsessed was I at the time!) I just don't feel that sort of thing developed between Lyra and Will. Does this better explain what I feel I missed? Why the scene with the fruit left me cold. As opposed to the end when I cried. (And many other parts of the books where I was incredibly emotionally moved.) I guess the one emotion I didn't have was whatever that one was of romance that I had with L'Engle's book. Does that make any sense whatsoever?
Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at yahoo.com
Received on Tue 08 May 2001 06:49:52 AM CDT
